The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law affects public education in many ways, and at many levels. One of the most obvious is the requirement that every school make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) in reading and math. Each year, the bar gets higher on what it takes to make AYP; by 2014, 100% of students are expected to meet or exceed standards.
Churchill School did not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) on the 2011 Illinois Student Achievement Test (ISAT) for the second year in three of its sub-groups. The law requires that after two years of not making AYP, a school must offer Choice to its students (only if the school also receives federal Title I money for disadvantaged students, which Churchill does). Choice means that families can elect to attend another school in the district and the district must provide transportation for them if they live outside the regular transportation boundaries.
District 41 takes its student growth in learning seriously and is never satisfied when any child has not learned to his/her potential. We know that Churchill is NOT a failing school and hearing this label used is painful to all of us,” said Superintendent Dr. Ann Riebock. The Choice designation and all that it entails is something we must work with; however, it helps to understand a little about the process that leads to it and how it fits in the larger context of the NCLB educational reform law. As you consider this information, please know that Churchill provides a strong learning environment with talented teachers and committed leadership. The success of each child is important to the school, and most children are doing well. The school has the full respect and complete support of the administration and the Board of Education. Churchill has worked hard to meet the learning needs of students, and stands ready to do all it can to help every student succeed.
What is a subgroup?
Subgroup reporting is a key feature of NCLB. The subgroups required by NCLB are: Racial/Ethnic: Whites, Blacks, Hispanics, Native American, Asian/Pacific Islander, and multi-ethnic; Economically Disadvantaged: Students on free or reduced lunch; Students with Disabilities: Students with IEPs; and Limited English Proficient students. NCLB says that a school must report a subgroup's performance if there are at least 45 students in the tested grades (3-5 for elementary schools). All of our schools have subgroups, but only Churchill and Hadley have subgroups large enough to be reported.
What is AYP?
NCLB sets standards in reading and math performance on the ISATs which all subgroups must meet to have made Adequate Yearly Progress. For 2010-2011, 85% of students in any subgroup must have met standards in reading and math for the school to meet AYP. Next year, that percentage will be 92.5%. If any subgroup does not meet AYP, then the school as a whole does not meet AYP.
Some policy makers say that most public schools are at risk for not making AYP. This is not a surprise to anyone who has followed the impact of NCLB. The law states that the percentage of students meeting standards increases every year until 2013-2014, at which time 100% of students must meet standards as measured by the ISAT. If that standard were applied today, none of our schools would make AYP. That said, our schools are making measurable improvement over time, and we will continue to move forward with the work that has begun and that which we know will improve student learning. We will continue to look at many measures to assess our students' growth, not a singular snapshot in time. We will grow in our understanding of how a professional learning community helps us to focus on the work of learning and to create a culture where every child's success belongs to all of us.
How should families make their decision about Choice?
Most children at Churchill are doing very well, and where there are challenges, Churchill is addressing them. This very same thing can be said about each one of our schools. Just because a given school may not have large enough subgroups to report subgroup performance to the state, does not mean that there are no children with challenges due to language, special learning needs and so forth. If you think your child is doing well in school, then there is no reason to think of changing to a new environment.
Here I'd like to make a personal observation: Churchill families have always seemed to me to be devoted to their school and to feel that the school's diversity brings riches that more than offset challenges. I think of the Fall Fest or the Talent Show, which draw incredible participation and demonstrate a powerful spirit of community and commitment to Churchill. I think of the teachers who dedicate themselves to their students. I think that Churchill families will be pained to have their school given label of Choice, but in the end will remember that their children are loved as individuals, are learning every day, and are happy at Churchill.
Some opportunities we do not seek but they help us grow and learn. We see this as an opportunity to gain clarity around our purpose and to surround each child and each other in our continuous journey of improvement.
Sincerely,
Ann Riebock, superintendent
Below are links to information that may provide context around NCLB and Choice:
(the document is 6 pages: it starts with the District overview followed by a one-page report for each school)